KC registration. How important?

We are considering buying a cavapoo puppy. We live in the Midlands and are prepared to travel a reasonable distance to find the right girl puppy. I have been studying the pets4homes website for around the last month as there appears to be limited availability with some of the well known breeders, who themselves have received varying degrees of good and bad press. This is usually due to socialisation of the puppy and the fear of what appears to be a puppy making factory.

Having studied the adverts and the advice from pets4homes there appears to be very few private sellers or breeders that have registered both the parents (normally the mother is a KC cav that lives at home, whilst the dad is a stud poodle that has been brought in and is not present). I normally find the father is registered but the mother isn’t. I am then faced with spending either around £1200 with a breeder, but again, or from around £1400 to £2000 from a private seller. Again when I press for more information I am normally told only one dog is registered but the other isn’t. Also when they offer kc names, no one is willing to tell me their full names and registration number in order that I can check for the inbreeding percentage of the parent which I also understand is important.

All a bit too difficult. Let alone the various health check certificates, which seems to be just a clean bill of health for the mum (kc cav) and either a simple DNA test for the dad (poodle) which appears to cover PRA. Down to a series of certificates covering around 4 other subjects.

Can someone advise me on:
1. How important Kc registration is? And why someone wouldn’t register a pedigree kc cav mum?
2. What key health tests you would insist upon with both the mum and dad?
3. What health test you would want on the puppy?
4. How do you ensure a pedigree belongs to the dog and how to check the integrity of the breeder.

Someone will be a long with more experience with health tests etc soon but, the most important things when looking for a breeder is to look for one who health tests their dogs. Not just health checks, but does the required health testing on both dog and bitch.

As poodle crosses as so popular now there are alot of unethical breeders breeding 'poos' and won't have any of the health tests. The popularity is unfortunately causing a lot of BYB to cross anything with a poodle and they sell. So you have to be extra careful when selecting a breeder for these. Is there any reason you're looking for a cross instead of a pure Cav or poodle? Both are lovely dogs, why not look for a purebred? You will obviously still need to look for breeders who health test but it may be easier to find. Cavs do have a lot of problems so you do need to be careful.

Any good ethical breeder will have absolutely no problems telling you the dog name and the registration and producing the health tests. You can check on websites (I think champ dogs) for records of the tests with the dogs name.

As for the importance of KC registered... it is somewhat important but not the only thing you should go on, even BYB will KC register some of their dogs. Not all KC registered dogs are from ethical breeders.

Many thanks. I wasn’t sure what section I was publishing in so I appreciate your help. We are keen on the cavapoo as they just look so cute I guess. The website you mention looks good. I will study it.

Is there a reason you are looking for a Cavalier crossed with a Poodle, as apposed to a purebred Poodle or Cavalier? because as you have found out, it's extremely difficult to find reputable breeders of this cross; the majority are bred by puppy farmers and backyard breeders.

The prices you are quoting are also astronomical for a crossbreed. I am not sure about Cavaliers, but I know you can purchase a purebred Mini Poodle, KC registered, good bloodlines, fully health tested parents, for less than £1000. So paying £1200-2000 for a cross of an untested background makes little sense, and all you are doing is lining the pockets of these unscrupulous breeders.

Cavaliers are sadly prone to multiple serious health problems when not very carefully bred. These include having an MRI to rule out syringomyelia, heart testing and multiple eye tests; you would be extremely lucky to fit a litter of this cross that has had a single out of these tests, never mind all that are recommended.

The answer to your questions to simply walk away at looking from these crosses.

Cavaliers are one of the most unhealthy dog breeds out there, and their possible illnesses can be fatal (SM & heart murmurs). Health tests for the Cavalier parents are more important than a KC registration, and these include Dry Eye, MRI scans, heart checks over 5, and generations of proof of their health.

I have been following a blog of a lady who loves the breed but is trying to outcross Cavaliers to improve health, unfortunately she has found that adding poodle doesn't remove SM and her poodle crosses (3/4 Cav) have presented with low grade chiari malformation. Personally I wouldn't risk it. KC reg or not!

Cavaliers are one of the most unhealthy dog breeds out there, and their possible illnesses can be fatal (SM & heart murmurs). Health tests for the Cavalier parents are more important than a KC registration, and these include Dry Eye, MRI scans, heart checks over 5, and generations of proof of their health.

I have been following a blog of a lady who loves the breed but is trying to outcross Cavaliers to improve health, unfortunately she has found that adding poodle doesn't remove SM and her poodle crosses (3/4 Cav) have presented with low grade chiari malformation. Personally I wouldn't risk it. KC reg or not!

A lot of these people breeding these crosses have become quite savvy and know that putting a singular token health test in there makes it 'look' better. As you say, this is very often the Poodle sire, who usually has a single token health test. It means they can advertised the litter as "health tested" which of course makes it more appealing to buyers.

If the only thing that is attracting you to this cross is it's "cute" looks, then there are various breeds and [non designer] crosses that have that scruffy look if that is what you are desire. One of my colleagues has a Greek rescue street dog that looks very much like these crosses that people pay thousands for - in fact I think she's better looking!

A lot of these people breeding these crosses have become quite savvy and know that putting a singular token health test in there makes it 'look' better. As you say, this is very often the Poodle sire, who usually has a single token health test. It means they can advertised the litter as "health tested" which of course makes it more appealing to buyers.

If the only thing that is attracting you to this cross is it's "cute" looks, then there are various breeds and [non designer] crosses that have that scruffy look if that is what you are desire. One of my colleagues has a Greek rescue street dog that looks very much like these crosses that people pay thousands for - in fact I think she's better looking!

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I've noticed that there has been breeders advertising golden retriever puppies on Champdogs who will only allow breeders that health test to advertise, with only the annual eye test which is the cheapest test and is likely to have only been done the once. Champdogs have had this pointed out to them and I hope they take note, but I do wonder if they will. Golden retrievers should, at the very least, have tests for had and ED as well as all the PRA eye tests.
As you say @labradrk this appears to be the latest tactic with puppy farms and bybs to have the token health test (the cheapest one they can find)

The main reason a breeder doesn't register a Cavalier King Charles (or any dog) is that they can't show a five generation pedigree because the dog is not either a purebred Cav or has been bred out of an unregistered line due to bad breeding practices. These practises include over breeding bitches, breeding older bitches or inbreeding - all of which will prevent registration with the Kennel Club (and suggest Puppy Farming).

I wouldn't touch an offspring from a Cavalier that isn't registered. Full stop.

The prices you have seen would suggest money breeders - not necessarily good breeders - simply those who do it as a business and who charge what they think they can get for their litters. No registration is a red flag. No health testing is a double red flag.

A home bred, health tested, pedigree Cavalier from a healthy line should cost you under £1000. I really can't see why breeders think that a poodle cross should cost more than either pedigree dogs used in the first place....or why people are so happy to pay it It really is a case of £££££. Many Cavvie breeders can now show good health test results going back at least two or three generations - for early onset heart murmur (MVD) and for Syringomelia (SM) the two issues that of concern to Cavaliers. I know as I have three and there are another seven I know well and who remain happy, healthy and issue free - and one is 14 years old now.

I'm not a fan of the Cavipoo as i think it ruins two good breeds ...and as for cute .......well, you can't beat a Cavvi puppy.

A lot of these people breeding these crosses have become quite savvy and know that putting a singular token health test in there makes it 'look' better. As you say, this is very often the Poodle sire, who usually has a single token health test. It means they can advertised the litter as "health tested" which of course makes it more appealing to buyers.

If the only thing that is attracting you to this cross is it's "cute" looks, then there are various breeds and [non designer] crosses that have that scruffy look if that is what you are desire. One of my colleagues has a Greek rescue street dog that looks very much like these crosses that people pay thousands for - in fact I think she's better looking!

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Ok maybe I was simplifying why we fancied a cavapoo too much. I saw from the breed information that they ticked the right boxes in terms of loyalty, training, intelligence, being left alone etc. We also have a close friend who has one and their dog seems to be perfect for what we are looking for. Many thanks for your advice.

The main reason a breeder doesn't register a Cavalier King Charles (or any dog) is that they can't show a five generation pedigree because the dog is not either a purebred Cav or has been bred out of an unregistered line due to bad breeding practices. These practises include over breeding bitches, breeding older bitches or inbreeding - all of which will prevent registration with the Kennel Club (and suggest Puppy Farming).

I wouldn't touch an offspring from a Cavalier that isn't registered. Full stop.

The prices you have seen would suggest money breeders - not necessarily good breeders - simply those who do it as a business and who charge what they think they can get for their litters. No registration is a red flag. No health testing is a double red flag.

A home bred, health tested, pedigree Cavalier from a healthy line should cost you under £1000. I really can't see why breeders think that a poodle cross should cost more than either pedigree dogs used in the first place....or why people are so happy to pay it It really is a case of £££££. Many Cavvie breeders can now show good health test results going back at least two or three generations - for early onset heart murmur (MVD) and for Syringomelia (SM) the two issues that of concern to Cavaliers. I know as I have three and there are another seven I know well and who remain happy, healthy and issue free - and one is 14 years old now.

I'm not a fan of the Cavipoo as i think it ruins two good breeds ...and as for cute .......well, you can't beat a Cavvi puppy.

J

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Thank you that’s really useful and has given me something to think about.

Ok maybe I was simplifying why we fancied a cavapoo too much. I saw from the breed information that they ticked the right boxes in terms of loyalty, training, intelligence, being left alone etc. We also have a close friend who has one and their dog seems to be perfect for what we are looking for. Many thanks for your advice.

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A purebred cavalier would tick all those boxes and you would have the benefit of having a health tested well bred puppy IF you went to an ethical breeder who is breeding for all the right reasons, not just to make cash from people who don't bother about where their dog comes from

Cavvies are lovely little dogs in their own right and don't need to be crossbreed with poodles or anything else.

Ok maybe I was simplifying why we fancied a cavapoo too much. I saw from the breed information that they ticked the right boxes in terms of loyalty, training, intelligence, being left alone etc. We also have a close friend who has one and their dog seems to be perfect for what we are looking for. Many thanks for your advice.

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Trouble with any crossbreed is you take both breeds (personality traits of which are not guaranteed) and roll the dice in terms of what parent they inherit. When it comes to being left alone etc that is mostly to do with training. Loyalty and intelligence, looks depend to a degree on the parents but given one parent high energy, the other low you could get anywhere in between. Same goes for fur type whatever. "Perfect for what we are looking for" isn't something which is solely down to breed or "type". So much is also training, socialisation etc. Breeds can only provide a baseline not a guarantee. There are retrievers who do not retrieve for example, herders who can't herd. That's where checking pedigrees comes into play. An offspring from good herders for example is more likely to also be a good herder. I say likely, not guaranteed.

@Goblin is right, you can't guarantee your pup will turn out exactly like your friends. In fact, a crossbreed is more of an uncertainty as they could take on traits from the breeds they're crossed from, so you could end up with a dog very much like a poodle or very much like a cav or anywhere inbetween. Your friends dog might have taken on traits of a cavvy for example and you might end up with a pup with more poodle traits so the two dogs will not be alike.

Though some breeds are more prone to separation anxiety, being left alone is mostly down to being trained correctly. All dogs need to be trained to be left, no matter what the breed.

I'm not a fan of the Cavipoo as i think it ruins two good breeds ...and as for cute .......well, you can't beat a Cavvi puppy.

J

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Yes you can.. Hovawart. (Not recommended for 1st time owners) but then all puppies are cute. It's why breeders, especially bad ones are so determined to get people to see them, preferably before doing research. Hard but sometimes necessary to say no holding a puppy.

Staff Member

I personally don't think there are any half decent cavapoo breeders out there, I haven't come across even one that tests for CM/SM (probably because an expensive MRI would eat into their potential profits too much).

Although they make the right noises about other health testing they do, IMO SM is a horrific disease in its own right, & regardless of what other conditions they have tested for if they haven't MRI'd their breeding dogs then they are categorically NOT a good breeder.

Cavs are a breed that I think can only be saved by thoughtful outcrossing- testing can only go so far- although I don't understand why a poodle would be the logical choice here where another type of spaniel would help keep breed 'type',

Apart from the obvious magic words 'doodl' or 'poo' being tacked onto a breed name to add a few hundred quid to the asking price.